One million homes now supplied with biomethane

One million homes are now being supplied with biomethane produced through the anaerobic digestion of farm and food waste, new data from the Green Gas Certification Scheme has shown.

The number of customers using biomethane to heat their homes has risen by a factor of 13 since 2017. Annual production has hit 2.5TWh – a four-fold increase on 2015.

“We’re very pleased to see so many households are now supporting green gas production in the UK,” said Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS) manager Jesse Scharf. “Together with the increasing number of businesses, small and large, that are also sourcing green gas they are creating an important drive towards greening our gas system.”

Renewable Energy Association head of biogas Kiara Zennaro said: “The real strength of biogas is that it is an established and commercially ready technology and can therefore help the country deliver swift progress towards greening the grid.

“More and more energy companies are offering green gas tariffs and the chancellor’s supportive statements about green gas in the spring statement show that its benefits are even being recognised at the top of government.”

According to the GGCS website, a total of 11 energy suppliers currently offer some form of biogas tariff, including Green Energy UK. Its chief executive Doug Stewart said: “As the first and still only provider to supply 100 per cent green gas to customers in the UK, I am delighted that there has been such a strong surge in demand for it.

“Since launching green gas two years ago, we have seen a 209 per cent increase in customers wanting us to supply them with green gas. Green gas is not only better for the environment, but it means millions of tonnes of organic waste which would otherwise be sent to landfill, incinerated or simply left to rot gets put to good use heating our homes.”